Re:The loneliness of the modern office team member
by aitkenably on Monday May 03, 2021 @10:06AM
(#27025228)
Same. I have friends from some gigs that have stayed friends for many years. Other jobs, I never talked with anyone again. Age and stage of life is factor. If your coworkers all have young children, birthday clubbing isn’t really on their agenda.
Without out-of-work activities & bounding, friendly coworkers don’t transition into friends. I’d suspect remote work makes it very difficult to form a permanent friendship with a colleague.
Re:The loneliness of the modern office team member
by decafninja on Monday May 03, 2021 @11:34AM
(#27026411)
Definitely agree age and stage of life is a factor. Which makes me more surprised how I've become so friendly with people at my current company. Our age ranges from early 20s to late 50s, singles, married with kids, etc. Most of us don't even live too close by. The only distinguishing factor I can think of, is as I mentioned, my ex-boss, who really had a knack for bringing people together.
If I had to attribute what the difference was:
First company: Almost everyone was within a 10 year age difference of each other, and even those few that were older were still "young at heart", for lack of a better term. Everyone enjoyed each other's company and would frequently meet up after work, even go party together at bars and clubs on peoples' birthdays, etc.
Current company: My ex-boss had a unique knack for bringing the team together. I don't know what specifically he did that contributed most, but the entire team ended up becoming friends. Since he left, things haven't been the same with newcomers into the team, while most of the oldtimers have left.